The triggering offense in Ewing v. California: walking out of an El Segundo, Calif., shop with three golf clubs (worth $399 each) concealed in one's trouser leg. The punishment: 25 years to life.

The triggering offenses in Lockyer v. Andrade: shoplifting $84.70 in videotapes (Snow White, Casper, The Fox and the Hound, The Pebble and the Penguin, and Batman Forever) from one K-Mart store in Ontario, Calif., and $68.84 in videotapes (Free Willy 2, Cinderella, Santa Claus, and Little Women) from another. The punishment: 50 years to life.

Read the Supreme Court's opinion reversing the Ninth Circuit's opinion in Adrade and holding that Andrade's two consecutive terms of 25 years to life in prison for a third strike conviction is not contrary to, or an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law.